Then Middlesbrough forward Patrick Bamford (11) during the EFL Sky Bet Championship match between Norwich City and Middlesbrough at Carrow Road, Norwich, England on 3 February 2018. Picture by Phil Chaplin.

PREVIEW: Boro hoping to consolidate play-off place

Then Middlesbrough forward Patrick Bamford (11) during the EFL Sky Bet Championship match between Norwich City and Middlesbrough at Carrow Road, Norwich, England on 3 February 2018. Picture by Phil Chaplin.

Middlesbrough will be looking to hold onto their play-off spot when they play Brentford on Saturday, a side who a firmly in the chasing pack.

The Bees are sat just outside the play-offs in 11th but are only eight points off Boro in that final play-off spot. Victory would see the Bees close the gap and move themselves closer to the top six.

Middlesbrough are currently occupying 6th position, but only just. Boro are just two points ahead of Sheffield United and the rest of the chasing pack.

Brentford manager Dean Smith will be looking for a response from his group of players as they have suffered back-to-back defeats for only the second time this season. Defeats to Millwall and most recently Cardiff have seen Smith’s men drop off the pace.

Neal Maupay put Brentford in front against Cardiff with Bluebirds keeper Neil Etheridge making two crucial saves to keep his side in the tie.

Sol Bamba leveled the scores half way through the first half before Cardiff took control of the game. Callum Paterson completed the turnaround before the interval before Kenneth Zahore put the icing on the cake by adding a third.

Middlesbrough are coming into the fixture on amazing form having won their last three games which has seen them gate crash the play-off places.

Victories over Leeds United, Birmingham City and most recently Barnsley have seen Boro become one of the form teams in the Sky Bet Championship.

Last Saturday, Boro entertained Barnsley with goals from Daniel Ayala, Adama Traore and Patrick Bamford saw the side from the North East collect the points. January signing Keiffer Moore fired a single dagger for the Tykes, but it proved only to be a consolation.

The neutral will hope that this game will provide as much entertainment as the reverse fixture. A 2-2 draw at The Riverside. Boro had to come from behind when Yoann Barbet opened the scoring, but this was eventually scratched off with Martin Braithwaite scoring the equaliser.

Brentford rapidly went back in front with a Ollie Watkins strike but former Manchester United full-back Fabio ensured that Boro would come from behind once again.